If Bermuda is home, what does this truly mean for those experiencing homelessness on the island? A country that allows its people to live without shelter is a country that is failing its own. While the island boasts one of the highest per-capita incomes in the world, a significant portion of the population struggles with housing insecurity — a reality that reflects deep social and economic inequalities.

Everyone deserves the dignity, stability and opportunity that a home provides. Without housing, individuals are denied access to safety, health, education and belonging.

Many believe Bermuda’s housing crisis is simply a matter of supply — not enough affordable units, too many people in need. And while it is true that Bermuda is in fact facing a critical housing shortage characterised by an imbalance between the number of existing residential units and the rapidly growing demand for housing, at its core the real issue runs deeper — the absence of housing as a recognised and protected social right.

The strong rental market in Bermuda drives economic growth, but it also presents countless challenges for residents facing issues of rental affordability and the availability of suitable rental options. Despite international recognition of the right to adequate housing under instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, this principle remains largely ignored in Bermuda’s public discourse and policy framework. For some, it’s a matter of ignorance. For others, it’s a wilful indifference, simply a quiet assumption that housing is a commodity to be earned, not a right to be guaranteed.

According to Home, there were 1,101 people experiencing homelessness last year. That equates to just under 2 per cent of Bermuda’s population compared with estimates of 0.2 per cent in the United States and 0.6 per cent in Britain. But what is even more concerning, according to Home, is that this number understates the scale of the issue, and by definition does not capture the “hidden homeless”.

This term refers to those living in temporary or inadequate conditions. The hidden homeless population in Bermuda can be described as people who are experiencing homelessness, but who are not visible — either outside or in official data. Typically living in cars, abandoned buildings or overcrowded places, the main demographic affected by said issue is single mothers, particularly those with young children.

Data from the Bermuda Census has indicated a clear rise in homelessness since 2010, when it was allegedly 82. The Department of Statistics developed these estimates based on people found “sleeping rough” and in The Salvation Army’s emergency shelter. In reality, this group forms only 11 per cent of the homeless population. On our tight-knit, community-based island, there is a cultural tendency to sofa-surf as a temporary solution to a period of housing difficulty. Although many will convince themselves their issue is temporary, any housing situation that is not a lasting solution is not sustainable.

In a society where public education, for example, is universally accepted and essential for social progress, why is housing not looked at as the same?

It’s time Bermuda applies a similar principle to housing. Social housing refers to government-supported housing initiatives designed to provide affordable, safe and decent homes for residents who may struggle to afford market-rate housing.

Social housing on the island is primarily managed by two government entities: the Bermuda Housing Corporation and the Bermuda Housing Trust. Both organisations aim to provide affordable and secure housing options for Bermudians, yet they have not fully succeeded in promoting the broader understanding of housing as a fundamental human right.

With regard to the BHC, nowhere in its public statements, strategic goals or outreach does it clearly articulate this fundamental idea. Instead, its programmes are often framed in terms of economic relief, availability or infrastructure development. In this economic framework, shelter becomes a product; available to those who can afford it and out of reach for those who can’t. But this mindset must shift because, fundamentally, homelessness is not inevitable. Rather, it is the predictable outcome of policy decisions that prioritise market forces over human dignity.

Similarly, while the BHT has made significant strides in addressing the housing needs of seniors, its approach falls short in terms of recognising housing as a human right. Its focus remains largely on affordability and operational efficiency, rather than framing access to housing as a guaranteed entitlement.

Collectively, Bermudians must begin to view housing not simply as an economic asset or investment, but as a fundamental tool for social stability and a safeguard against homelessness and insecurity.

The Ministry of Housing and Municipalities recently announced plans to renovate 49 BHC units over the next two years — 16 scheduled for completion in 2025 and 33 in 2026. A step in the right direction, but far from sufficient in the face of Bermuda’s growing housing emergency. According to the Government, more than 200 individuals are on the BHC waiting list.

This article is not meant to deny the progress that has been made; there has been quite a bit. The recent column in The Royal Gazette addressing homelessness is a commendable step towards greater public awareness, Home has done a great job gathering statistics and facts about Bermuda’s homeless crisis, and the Government of Bermuda has allocated funds to support the Plan to End Homelessness — aiming to provide housing options and early-intervention services for those suddenly homeless.

The purpose of this article is not to point fingers or dismiss the important work already done. Rather, it’s about advocating that we, as a society, must see housing not just as an issue of social and political discourse, but as a human right that should be upheld by everyone.

It is not enough that we simply build more housing, but that we change our mindset about what housing is and who it must be built for. We must recognise housing as not an economic asset, but as a home. Because when it comes to the raw, unvarnished reality of homelessness, it is not about assigning blame or debating party lines. It’s about the human beings behind the statistics; the individuals whose minds are shaped by chronic stress and trauma, and whose hearts carry the weight of fear, isolation and, most of all, uncertainty.

To a casual newspaper reader, the statistic of 1,101 may just look like a number — one thousand, one hundred and one. But to any person encompassed by that statistic, it is one thousand sleepless nights, one hundred searches for safety, and one crushing reality of not knowing where your head will lay tomorrow.

• Zarah Siddiqi, a 16-year-old Year 12 student at Somersfield Academy, is a passionate advocate for education, human rights and social justice. As a committed member of Bermuda Is Love, she champions initiatives rooted in compassion, equity and transformative activism